Scale with sideways ramp

ABSTRACT

A scale with sideways ramp ( 10 ) having a bottom conveyor ( 12 A) which has a bottom conveyor belt ( 12 AA) rotatably mounted on at least one bottom conveyor bottom spindle ( 12 AB) and on at least one bottom conveyor top spindle ( 12 AC). The bottom conveyor ( 12 A) further has a bottom conveyor left support ( 12 ADA) and a bottom conveyor right support ( 12 ADB) each securely connected at a top end thereto. A bottom end of each of the bottom conveyor left support ( 12 ADA) and the bottom conveyor right support ( 12 ADB) are connected to opposite sides of a bottom conveyor ( 16 ). A top conveyor ( 12 B) which has a top conveyor belt ( 12 BA) rotatably mounted on at least one top conveyor bottom spindle ( 12 BB) and on at least one top conveyor top spindle ( 12 BC). The at least one top conveyor bottom spindle ( 12 BB) is rotatably connected to the bottom conveyor top spindle ( 12 AC) by a second motor connector ( 14 B). A conveyor flap ( 12 D) is movably securely mounted at opposite top corners to the bottom conveyor left support ( 12 ADA) and the bottom conveyor right support ( 12 ADB). A motor ( 14 ) is connected to the top conveyor top spindle ( 12 BC) by a first motor connector ( 14 A).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sideways ramp. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to scale with sideways ramp functioning toreduce back injuries to airline check in employees.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Many attempts have been made to reduce the stress on an airline baggagehandler's back. The present invention solves the problem.

Numerous innovations for scales and ramps have been provided in theprior art that are described as follows. Even though these innovationsmay be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which theyaddress, they differ from the present invention as hereinaftercontrasted.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,649, titled, Portable weighing device for themobility-disabled, invented by Garfinkle, et. al., a portable weighingdevice comprising two laterally displaced, electrically connected andrigidly aligned weighing modules is disclosed that permits convenientweighing of the mobility-disabled while occupying a conventionalmanually-operated wheelchair supported by two front caster wheels andtwo rear main wheels. The weighing platforms are so contoured that thewheelchair wheels can roll smoothly onto and off of the weighingplatforms without disturbing the weighing device. The weighing devicefully guides the operator through the sequence of steps required toweight the occupant of a wheelchair.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,558, titled, Scale assembly, invented by Swersey,a scale for weighing bed-ridden patients includes two assemblies each ofwhich has a pair of rollers mounted on a load frame upon which theentire bed can be elevated. The bed frame has two pairs of ramps mountedon an underside whereby the bed can be rolled onto the rollers. Eachramp has inclined surfaces to cause lifting of the bed onto the rollersof the scale assemblies.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,981, titled, Controlled chute device, invented byHirano, a controlled chute device, including a ramp chute having anentrance gate at the upstream and an exit gate at the downstream, forletting groups of product fed from the entrance gate slip down along itby gravity and discharging them from the exit gate, wherein the bothentrance and exit gates are controlled sophisticatedly so that two ormore groups of product sequentially fed from the entrance gate can existon the chute at the same time without fear of contact and intermixtureof the adjoining groups, which device is especially suitable for use ina combination weighing machine.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,276, titled, Scale of flat construction, inventedby Swersey, et. al., a scale is of limited height and utilizes Z-shapedflexures between the load frame and support frame. The scale can beplaced in a hospital bed for weighing bed-ridden patients or formonitoring weight variations in bed-ridden patients. A cart is providedfor transporting the scale from place to place and includes an inclinedramp from which the scale may be readily moved onto a bed.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,814, titled, Weighing apparatus, invented byDillon, portable low profile floor-mounted weighing device including aramp to gain access to the weighing platform. The weight is sensed by ashear beam load cell that is attached to a vertical frame part by atleast one fastener transverse to the direction of application of theload and transverse to the direction of the resisting force.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,197, titled, Weighing ramp adaptor, invented byKechely, a weighing ramp adaptor includes a frame having tab elementsarranged to releasably fit the adaptor to a support platform of aweighing scale. The frame of the adaptor is formed and configured tohave removably mounted thereto a wheelchair weighing ramp to therebyallow the weighing ramp to be attached to and used with the weighingscale.

The aforementioned patents differ from the present invention because thepatented inventions do not describe and/or claim the following: flatscale to weigh baggage, movable or gravity slide ramp or chutepositioned sideways to scale; and movable belt to transport baggage fromscale.

Numerous innovations for a scale with sideways ramp have been providedin the prior art that are adapted to be used. Even though theseinnovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes towhich they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of thepresent invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sideways ramp. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to scale with sideways ramp functioning toreduce back injuries to airline check in employees.

The types of problems encountered in the prior art are they do notaddress “in situ” handling of baggage.

In the prior art, unsucessful attempts to solve this problem wereattempted namely: different ramps and scale configurations. However, theproblem was solved by the present invention because the presentinvention incorporated a scale into the handling device.

Innovations within the prior art are rapidly being exploited in thefield of back strain relief.

The present invention went contrary to the teaching of the art whichdescribes and claims different configurations of scales and ramps butnever a combination of the two.

The present invention solved a long felt need for a baggage handler'sback strain relief.

The present invention produced unexpected results namely: quickerhandling and processing of airline baggage.

A synergistic effect was produced utilizing the present invention due tothe following facts and results from experimentation: reduced backstrain increased worker attendance reducing overall airline costs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a scalewith sideways ramp having a bottom conveyor, top conveyor, conveyorhinge, conveyor flap, motor, bottom conveyor, scale, and luggage.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to providethe bottom conveyor having a bottom conveyor belt, bottom conveyorbottom spindle, bottom conveyor top spindle, bottom conveyor leftsupport, and bottom conveyor right support.

In keeping with these objects, and with others which will becomeapparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides,briefly stated, in the top conveyor having a top conveyor belt, topconveyor bottom spindle, and top conveyor top spindle.

When the motor is designed in accordance with the present invention, ithas a first motor connector and a second motor connector.

The novel features which are considered characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however,both as to its construction and its method of operation, together withadditional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood fromthe following description of the specific embodiments when read andunderstood in connection with the accompanying drawings.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWINGS

10—scale with sideways ramp (10)

12A—bottom conveyor (12A)

12AA—bottom conveyor belt (12AA)

12AB—bottom conveyor bottom spindle (12AB)

12AC—bottom conveyor top spindle (12AC)

12ADA—bottom conveyor left support (12ADA)

12ADB—bottom conveyor right support (12ADB)

12B—top conveyor (12B)

12BA—top conveyor belt (12BA)

12BB—top conveyor bottom spindle (12BB)

12BC—top conveyor top spindle (12BC)

12C—conveyor hinge (12C)

12D—conveyor hinge (12D)

14—motor (14)

14A—first motor connector (14A)

14B—second motor connector (14B)

16—bottom conveyor (16)

18—scale (18)

20—luggage (20)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top right perspective view of a scale with sideways ramp(10).

FIG. 2 is a right side view of a scale with sideways ramp (10).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are top right perspective view and rightside view of a scale with sideways ramp (10), respectively. The scalewith sideways ramp (10) comprises a bottom conveyor (12A) whichcomprises a bottom conveyor belt (12AA) rotatably mounted on at leastone bottom conveyor bottom spindle (12AB) and on at least one bottomconveyor top spindle (12AC). The bottom conveyor (12A) further comprisesa bottom conveyor left support (12ADA) and a bottom conveyor rightsupport (12ADB) each securely connected at a top end thereto. A bottomend of each of the bottom conveyor left support (12ADA) and the bottomconveyor right support (12ADB) are connected to opposite sides of abottom conveyor (16).

The scale with sideways ramp (10) further comprises a top conveyor (12B)having a top conveyor belt (12BA) rotatably mounted on at least one topconveyor bottom spindle (12BB) and on at least one top conveyor topspindle (12BC). The at least one top conveyor bottom spindle (12BB) isrotatably connected to the bottom conveyor top spindle (12AC) by asecond motor connector (14B) functioning to rotate the bottom conveyorbelt (12AA) and the top conveyor belt (12BA). The top conveyor (12B) ispositioned at a top end adjacent to a scale (18). A conveyor hinge (12C)is optionally securely mounted between the top conveyor bottom spindle(12BB) and the bottom conveyor top spindle (12AC).

The scale with sideways ramp (10) further comprises a conveyor flap(12D) movably securely mounted at opposite top corners to the bottomconveyor left support (12ADA) and the bottom conveyor right support(12ADB). The conveyor flap (12D) functions to permit luggage (20)movably positioned on the bottom conveyor (16) to move past the scalewith sideways ramp (10).

The scale with sideways ramp (10) further comprises a motor (14)connected to the top conveyor top spindle (12BC) by a first motorconnector (14A). The motor (14) functions to rotate the top conveyor(12B) and the bottom conveyor (12A) transporting luggage from the scale(18) to the bottom conveyor (16).

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in ascale with sideways ramp, it is not intended to be limited to thedetails shown, since it will be understood that various omissions,modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of thedevice illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled inthe art without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by letters patent isset forth in the appended claims:

What is claimed is:
 1. A scale with sideways ramp (10) comprising; A) abottom conveyor (12A) which comprises a bottom conveyor belt (12AA)rotatably mounted on at least one bottom conveyor bottom spindle (12AB)and rotatably mounted on at least one bottom conveyor top spindle(12AC), the bottom conveyor (12A) further comprises a bottom conveyorleft support (12ADA) and a bottom conveyor right support (12ADB) eachsecurely connected at a top end to opposite ends of the bottom conveyorbottom spindle (12AB), a bottom end of each of the bottom conveyor leftsupport (12ADA) and the bottom conveyor right support (12ADB) areconnected to a right side and left side of a bottom conveyor (16); B) atop conveyor (12B) which comprises a top conveyor belt (12BA) rotatablymounted on at least one top conveyor bottom spindle (12BB) and rotatablymounted on at least one top conveyor top spindle (12BC), the at leastone top conveyor bottom spindle (12BB) is rotatably connected to thebottom conveyor top spindle (12AC) by a second motor connector (14B); C)a conveyor flap (12D) is movably securely mounted at opposite topcorners to the bottom conveyor left support (12ADA) and the bottomconveyor right support (12ADB); and D) a motor (14) is connected to thetop conveyor top spindle (12BC) by a first motor connector (14A).
 2. Thescale with sideways ramp (10) as described in claim 1, wherein aconveyor hinge (12C) is securely mounted between the top conveyor bottomspindle (12BB) and the bottom conveyor top spindle (12AC).
 3. The scalewith sideways ramp (10) as described in claim 1, wherein a scale (18) ispositioned adjacent to a top end of the top conveyor (12B).